Next Generation CarPlay In the Wild

[RunningOnSolar]

There has been a lot of speculation on whether CarPlay 2.0 (or whatever you want to call it) was dead. Apparently it is not, as evidenced by this review in Top Gear of CarPlay “Ultra” in an Aston Martin.
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/tech/new-apple-carplay-ultra-tested-hands-every-new-feature

Aston Martin and Porsche were both reportedly working on such a feature two years ago, but Aston Martin has delivered it first. Software bugs aside, I’m generally happy with CarPlay, but really anticipated this feature being delivered with the car when I ordered it over a year ago. I should have known better given the size and scope of such a software delivery.

Just what this means for owners of Macans, your guess is as good as mine. Will it be offered never, as an upgrade, only on model year 2026 or by as yet vaporware Feature on Demand? Taycan owners have received some software upgrades, but will Macan EVs? Time will tell.

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[tmrqs]

Different article posted here and CarPlay Ultra being discussed here.

 

[alxman]

After watching this video, I think Apple CarPlay Ultra is definitely an improvement from the previous generation and would look better on cars similar to the 2025 ICE Macan that I got as a loaner while my Macan EV is being serviced. However, a lot of the features are already present in my 2025 Macan EV sans the full integration with the native car’s infotainment. It helped me be less jealous of it and happier with what I have now.

Now I think all I want for Christmas is Apple car key and a way to hack and reprogram the matrix headlights. Lol

 

[Yves]

It’s wild, integration with physical buttons and a hybrid system so the widgets work even if your phone is not connected yet, I hope that it comes to the Macan EV, Aston Martin is out of budget, and I do not fancy a KIA …

 

[strwbryfruitcake]

Didn't own my Taycan long enough to know, but I heard from my SA and dealership that Porsche isn't looking to bring OTA updates unless its for safety/liability reasons, some OTA updates were delivered, but no push for feature based OTA updates.

I would think Carplay Ultra would be considered a feature, which will only come with the new models and old models won't be updated, like carplay on the 992, and I'm not sure but also the Taycan.

Isn't the new Macan EV also 1st Porsche PCM to be android based skinned to look like the porsche PCM? Maybe it will indeed change with this platform, but it would be something new that Porsche does iirc.

I hope I'm wrong, it will def help partially the resale value issue for EVs if Porsche EV can and do receive OTA features and updates like Tesla.

 

[Petzi]

https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/available-models/

 

[AlanH]

After watching this video, I think Apple CarPlay Ultra is definitely an improvement from the previous generation and would look better on cars similar to the 2025 ICE Macan that I got as a loaner while my Macan EV is being serviced. However, a lot of the features are already present in my 2025 Macan EV sans the full integration with the native car’s infotainment. It helped me be less jealous of it and happier with what I have now.

Now I think all I want for Christmas is Apple car key and a way to hack and reprogram the matrix headlights. Lol

You mention you’d like to reprogram the matrix lights. I find them inferior to the ones I had on my 2020 Audi Q7. The only come on at 60km and don’t seem as sophisticated. What would you change?

 

[SteveInKirkland]

Is there a way to make the current passenger display show video which is not from YouTube?

 

[alxman]

You mention you’d like to reprogram the matrix lights. I find them inferior to the ones I had on my 2020 Audi Q7. The only come on at 60km and don’t seem as sophisticated. What would you change?

In the US the full functionality is limited (only low beams and automatic high beams) and the overall brightness appears decreased. The high beams definitely feel less bright than the ones on my BMW X6. So I figured that reprogramming it to the European settings would be an upgrade!

 

[jm1883]

In the US the full functionality is limited (only low beams and automatic high beams) and the overall brightness appears decreased. The high beams definitely feel less bright than the ones on my BMW X6. So I figured that reprogramming it to the European settings would be an upgrade!

I’m hoping someone finds a way to enable the matrix lights. It was possible in the ICE Macan.

I’ve had a Porsche specialist offer to try, but they’d want my car for a full day. Potentially charge a chunk of money in labour costs and they can’t guarantee success.

 

[craz8]

Is there a way to make the current passenger display show video which is not from YouTube?

I just tried using my USB video, and if you start it on the passenger screen from the Music player(!), that's where it plays.

I have yet to see if it continues playing the video when driving - presumably it will, with the privacy filter enabled, but who knows if anyone tested this at Porsche based on the poor video name display as shipped.

 

[RunningOnSolar]

I’m hoping someone finds a way to enable the matrix lights. It was possible in the ICE Macan.

I’ve had a Porsche specialist offer to try, but they’d want my car for a full day. Potentially charge a chunk of money in labour costs and they can’t guarantee success.

If you have the right equipment to plug into the OBD2 port and correct headlight hardware I have to believe there are settings to enable this feature. The old law should no longer be an excuse to prevent us from having adaptive headlights. I prefer a legit solution, but this situation is kind of ridiculous.

 

[verdee]

Yes you should be able to program the matrix headlights. Problem is that all newer Porsches are encrypted so you need an online connection to the PPN network to be able to do anything with settings. Use to be that you could use a bootleg PIWIS to adjust settings but not anymore.

 

[alxman]

Yes you should be able to program the matrix headlights. Problem is that all newer Porsches are encrypted so you need an online connection to the PPN network to be able to do anything with settings. Use to be that you could use a bootleg PIWIS to adjust settings but not anymore.

Not good!

 

[PrudentOcean]

The encryption is a requirement in Europe, and the reason the ICE Macan is being discontinued there. It wasn't feasible to upgrade the electronics in that model to comply with the new cybersecurity regulations that are supposed to prevent tampering/hacking.

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